The dilemma: David and Maria have a 2004 Mitsubishi Verada GTV that they got for a steal in 2007 and has served them faultlessly since. Now it's time to upgrade.

What car should I buy?

THE DILEMMA

David and Maria have a 2004 Mitsubishi Verada GTV that they got for a steal in 2007 and has served them faultlessly since. They love its luxurious specification but are thinking it's time to move up to something more contemporary, especially in terms of safety. They want a repeat of their Verada experience: a near-new car with low kilometres and a nicely depreciated price. The budget is about $30,000.

THE SHORTLIST

So we're looking for an orphan, a car that failed to set the market alight and is now cheaper than more-popular used alternatives.

Of course, some orphans were poorly conceived, shoddily executed disappointments that were wisely avoided when new and should be avoided today.

Others, though, were worthy but uninspired, the right cars for the wrong time or too obscure for the mainstream.

These are the kinds of forgotten souls we've assembled in this fight for David and Maria's $30,000. They're a varied lot but, much like the underappreciated Verada, make a strong value case.

2008-onwards Citroen C5

You'll need in the order of $50,000 for a new C5, but we've seen 2008 entry-level 2.0-litre diesels with absurdly low kays for as little as $30,000 in used-car yards.

For that you get a hell of a lot of car, including all the expected safety gear, a very generous serve of toys, uniquely attractive styling and innovative cabin ambience. Stretch the budget and you can have it as a wagon, or with a 2.7-litre diesel V6.

That V6, however, isn't a big a step up around town thanks to turbo lag. A tight back seat, resolutely comfort-oriented character and debatable reliability prospects are other potentially divisive traits.

2011-onwards Kia Optima Platinum

This Kia hasn't been around long enough to deliver a big depreciation bonus, but demo models can be had for thousands less than the $36,990 new asking price. Find one with a higher odo count and you might be able to twist the seller's arm down to the low $30,000s.

At that price you won't find much bad to say about the slinky styling, roomy cabin, competitive safety, punchy 2.4-litre petrol engine or toy count. You'll also have a big chunk of its five-year warranty to play with.

However, the Kia isn't as polished to drive as the others. It's also likely to be even cheaper before long, so real bargain hunters will want to hold off a while before striking.

2007-onwards Skoda Octavia

Skoda's Octavia is a perfect example of how a brand's indifferent reputation adds up to great value at the used-car lot.

The Octavia is in essence a re-bodied, slightly bigger version of the Volkswagen Golf, only it costs much less. It can be had in a wide selection of body styles (sedan, liftback or wagon) and petrol or diesel engines. At this budget, we'd aim for improved post-2009 update models, or a sporty RS.

All Octavias are capable cars with great practicality, strong safety, competitive drivetrains and solid road manners. However, lanky types will test the back seat and, like any VW, parts and servicing can be on the pricey side.

DRIVE RECOMMENDS

You'll struggle to find a more upmarket package of similar vintage to the Citroen for this money, or one that's more unique to drive or look at. If you're willing to take a leap of faith in regards to its reliability, dealer coverage and other ownership prospects, you'll love it to bits, but conservative types might find it a bit too weird and too much hassle.

The Kia couldn't be more different. Its talent and quality don't run quite as deep as the others but, thanks to its solid reliability prospects and a long warranty, it should deliver the smoothest ownership experience.

The Skoda? It combines a good dose of the Citroen's upmarket flair with a little more assurance on the ownership front, albeit not to the same extent as the Kia. It's not perfect, but in this battle it looks like a great compromise.